PM Abbasi announces Rs25bn package for Karachi following first visit to metropolis

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, following his first official visit to Karachi, announced a Rs25 billion development package for the metropolis and a Rs5bn package for Hyderabad during the current fiscal year.

“We will allocate Rs25bn for Karachi this year and Rs5bn for Hyderabad.”

“Funds for provinces in 2013 were Rs1,200bn and this year we have allocated Rs1,900bn,” said the premier.

Abbasi also expressed satisfaction over progress of current development projects in the metropolis and said the governor is overseeing activities in the city.

He further said that he met the business community in Karachi and the businessmen and traders expressed satisfaction over the city’s situation.

Referring to the support lent to PML-N by MQM-P, Abbasi said that the MQM-P supported the ruling party without placing any conditions on their support.

Commenting on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s ‘homecoming’ rally, the premier said that it is Nawaz’s right to express his opinions and he has not said anything wrong in his speeches to PML-N supporters.

Earlier, the premier reached Karachi on his first official visit to the province.

Governor Sindh briefed the prime minister on development initiatives taken to instill confidence in the business community. The governor also briefed Abbasi on the preparation of plans to address the development deficit in the infrastructure development projects in the province in general and Karachi in particular.

Prime Minister Abbasi, in a statement, said the federal government will extend complete support for development initiatives in Sindh.

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah received Abbasi at the airport. Minister of Interior Ahsan Iqbal is also accompanying the prime minister.

The premier visited the Quaid’s mausoleum to pay his regards, ahead of the 70th independence day.

The premier also met with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar along with the party delegation.

“The delegation requested the prime minister to help recover missing members of MQM,” Farooq Sattar said.

He further added that the federal government must ensure MQM’s political freedom.